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[CryptiK]

Perfectly fine with Nintendo not going all political, games don't need to do it. Its just an in thing at the moment.

 

[rudger]

No, it's not spot on, unless Reggie's words hold more weight than the actions of developers he isn't in charge of and has no control over. But apparently on here, words speak louder than actions for some people

Spot on

 

[redcrayon]

If anything they've trended away from the typical "man's man" characters. Link has seemingly been becoming more androgynous, despite Aonuma claiming there's nothing behind it

I think it's more that what an idealised leading man looks like in Japan is different to various western countries. These trends change over time, western games ape cinema in that 80s box art was littered with blokes looking like bodybuilders, whereas today its trendier to be athletic rather than huge.

 

[Merchandise]

When people call this David Cage guy a shit artist because he says his work doesn't have anything in particular to say

but Mario Oddysey is GOAT months before release and it's going to have a negative amount of story

lol

 

[Not]

No, it's not spot on, unless Reggie's words hold more weight than the actions of developers he isn't in charge of and has no control over. But apparently on here, words speak louder than actions for some people

Nintendo IS fine with the American political status quo. But so are most transnational corporations apparently, so it's not like they're especially heinous in comparison.

 

[BRocknRolla]

Kinda sounds like a GG's sentiment; "I don't like politics in my games! I just want to get back to playing games that only characters like me!"

Come on. This behavior is disgusting. We have an actual quote. Don't pretend like something was said that clearly wasn't.

 

[Battlechili]

I like this response.
I just hope that the "we want people to have fun" part means there's going to be a new Star Fox game on the horizon or a re-release of Zero that fixes the controls.

I mean, that's what would make me have fun.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Nintendo IS fine with the American political status quo. But so are most transnational corporations apparently, so it's not like they're especially heinous in comparison.

What are all these upcoming Nintendo games that are maintaining this status quo? Almost every game that isn't from an established series (and really, I just mean Zelda) has gender and skin color options and characters of different ethnicities

 

[Alo0oy]

Most of the gaming industry if not all of it couldn't pull it off to save there lives anyway

They want to pretend to be deep with certain talking points. Farcry 5 is the embodiment of it. Have your cake and eat it too type of mentality.

I prefer them trying than giving spineless non-answers like David Cage and Reggie did.

 

[mazillion]

Wow, one of the most annoying GAF thread in a while. Shouldn't have even brought this up here.

This NINTENDO we're talking about, we all know what business they're in. This shouldn't even be something we'd have to ask them but of course having a political headline these days is what gets you clicks.

 

[Kinyou]

"In the current climate" seems to have become the standard generic phrase for justifying even the most fascist nonsense.

What fascist nonsense is being justified here? Not being political?

 

[Sciz]

This thread is crazy. I just want to play Kirby.

Kirby just got done telling a story about corporate greed and industrialization consuming a man's humanity.

 

[Darkspineslayer]

I don't know if you're being serious, but if you are, that's a terrifying sentiment.

It's an unfortunate truth though. It's a ridiculous world we live in.

Say that you were to express a thought like, oh I dunno, We don't really aim to have political statements in our fun jumping plumber games. Then you're a Trump supporter and "literally Hitler"

 

[BRocknRolla]

It's not that there's a moral imperative to do so, it's that every game inherently does so. Using "political" clouds this a bit, but the real point here is that every work someone makes inherently has messages that reflects their beliefs and/or intent, and to act otherwise is foolish and cowardly at best.

Trying to act like this isn't the case is disingenuous, and if we want to talk about moral imperatives, I do think feeding into this belief that you can somehow be apolitical (when what that generally actually means is regressive, or at least anti-progress) is in fact flawed morally due to the negative impact it has on people. Look at what just came out of interviews about Detroit- David Cage trying to say that his game that's literally about oppression and slavery somehow doesn't have a message, it just asks questions. Such statements cater to people who don't want games to have messages, and that's a political act in itself.

EDIT: Sorry to essentially talk past you- didn't see your latest reply before posting. Nor did I realize you were the same poster I originally quoted, oops.

No problem.

We agree that things are always going to be infused with politics. And we agree that "politics" is a woefully inadequate word to use in this situation, but it's the one we have to work with given the quote.

I have a harder time with the, "No action = Support of the status quo." I understand entirely why some feel that way, but it demands such great deal of people, that I just can't agree that it's an imperative. There are times when we should all stand up, but whether we can demand when that time must be or on what political topics isn't something I'm comfortable with.

 

[WaterAstro]

Nintendo shouldn't be closed off to all forms of games. Not all people play games just for fun.

 

[Drey1082]

Kirby just got done telling a story about corporate greed and industrialization consuming a man's humanity.

 

[watershed]

I had to decipher that thread title and I get that this has been Nintendo's approach since forever. I'm cool with it nearly all of the time.

 

[jabuseika]

Some people play games to get away from politics.

I think Nintendo understands that.

 

[Not]

When people think representation in the media and acknowledgement of human rights being trod upon is "political," you can usually tell the status quo treats them just fine.

A voice of a minority or otherwise uncommon or systemically marginalized entity should still be heard. People who actively antagonize the former group should be shunned or denounced by society, even if they're a source of profit. How "controversial."

I get games as escapism. But some people are more affected by the lack of acknowledgment or empathy from the games they're playing, and their enjoyment is hindered by that.

I mean, I guess we could all play Tetris or something to escape. Solves all the issues right there.

 

[Aaronrules380]

Literally every decision in making a piece of art sends a message, whether the creator is conscious of it or not. Literally every goddamn one. Just because you don't intend for your work to impact someone in a positive or negative psychological manner doesn't change the fact that it probably will and that it's something worth examining and thinking about. Also, too many people here seem to think politics only refers to overt political parties or shit like that.

 

[nkarafo]

That's a great stance to have, well done Reggie

 

[Retro Edge]

You want us to have fun? So why are you forcing us to use an external mobile app and a headset with 2 cables, 1 to the phone and the second to the switch for ingame game chat?

That's not having fun, that's bollox.

 

[KidGalactus]

No it's not. Art is, in simplest terms, an expression of creativity.

The assertion about what is, or is not art is not creative. It is political.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

When people think representation in the media and acknowledgement of human rights being trod upon is "political," you can usually tell the status quo treats them just fine.

A voice of a minority or otherwise uncommon or systemically marginalized entity should still be heard. People who actively antagonize the former group should be shunned or denounced by society, even if they're a source of profit. How "controversial."

I get games as escapism. But some people are more affected by the lack of acknowledgment or empathy from the games they're playing, and their enjoyment is hindered by that.

I mean, I guess we could all play Tetris or something to escape. Solves all the issues right there.

You seem to be actively ignoring the games Nintendo has been creating and solely looking at this statement for some bizarre, inexplicable reason

The assertion about what is, or is not art is not creative. It is political.

I disagree. This seems like art elitists bending the definition to pretentiously define what they consider "art" to be. Like I said, in it's purest form, it's simply an expression of creativity

 

[BRocknRolla]

You want us to have fun? So why are you forcing us to use an external mobile app and a headset with 2 cables, 1 to the phone and the second to the switch for ingame game chat?

That's not having fun, that's bollox.

Great of you to engage with the actual topic at hand.

 

[Darkspineslayer]

I mean, I guess we could all play Tetris or something to escape. Solves all the issues right there.

You mean that allegory for how the accomplishments of the layman will basically disappear and they will eventually, inevitably be crushed under the pressures raining down from the 1% to continue working for them on the endless hamster wheel?

 

[Yarbskoo]

Why would you even ask Reggie about that? Everything he says sounds like it was drafted by at least four executives and two from marketing.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

The assertion about what is, or is not art is not creative. It is political.

Are all games art? is picross art?

 

[Platy]

Cant wait to see this response plastered in every thread asking about playable female characters from Nintendo

Which is because not doing a female link is the biggest kind of political statements that nintendo do

 

[ElTorro]

What fascist nonsense is being justified here? Not being political?

I meant the sentiment that everyone who is not with you is against you. I thought the post I quoted made that claim, but reading it a second time I probably misread it.

 

[BobbyRobby]

Pretty creepy that the absence of a political statement is causing so much ire.

Nintendo largely makes entertainment for children that adults also happen to like.

 

[Caelus]

Are all games art? is picross art?

Why wouldn't it be?

 

[IchigoSharingan]

I'm sorry but our balls are in another castle.

 

[zhixson]

Are all games art? is picross art?

Picross makes art!

 

[Not]

You seem to be actively ignoring the games Nintendo has been creating and solely looking at this statement for some bizarre, inexplicable reason

I'm mostly addressing the people in this thread who are obviously irritated by anything that makes them uncomfortable, which they cover over with the blanket term "politics" or "political."

Those kind of people need to be educated, and understand that societal changes and perspectives that contrast with their own needn't be waved away with a catch-all buzzword or viewed as threatening.

 

[GamerJM]

Even disregarding the "all art is political," thing, I think this is a silly statement just because it implies that a game that sets out to make a political statement can't be fun in its own right.

 

[Sciz]

http://kirby.nintendo.com/rainbow-curse/assets/img/img-tout-3.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Social commentary comes at us in strange forms sometimes.

 

[Wamb0wneD]

So we have one thread where David Cage says he doesn't want to make any political statements with his game and the overall reaction is: "Cool, I'm ok with that." Reggie says basically the same thing: "Omg art can't exist without political context fuck off Reggie!"

 

[rudger]

I'm mostly addressing the people in this thread who are obviously irritated by anything that makes them uncomfortable, which they cover over with the blanket term "politics" or "political."

Those kind of people need to be educated, and understand that societal changes and perspectives that contrast with their own needn't be waved away with a catch-all buzzword or viewed as threatening.

But nobody was arguing that. You didn't quote anybody. And this is a thread about Nintendo.

 

[Kinyou]

Literally every decision in making a piece of art sends a message, whether the creator is conscious of it or not. Literally every goddamn one. Just because you don't intend for your work to impact someone in a positive or negative psychological manner doesn't change the fact that it probably will and that it's something worth examining and thinking about. Also, too many people here seem to think politics only refers to overt political parties or shit like that.

When a dev says "we're making a political game" wouldn't that give you different expectations compared to other games? It's true that in a sense every game is political, but when that classification is so broad it also becomes kind of meaningless. Reggie seems to interpret it in the sense of commenting on current issues.

I meant the sentiment that everyone who is not with you is against you. I thought the post I quoted made that claim, but reading it a second time I probably misread it.

Ah got it. No problem

 

[Choomp]

I think I get it, it's very understandable to not want to have politics in Mario and Zelda. Makes perfect sense, but, as usual with Reggie, probably could've been worded better.

 

[CryptiK]

Pretty creepy that the absence of a political statement is causing so much ire.

Nintendo largely makes entertainment for children that adults also happen to like.

It will for a while its a huge fad at the moment, basically because of the US. If you dont have political statements in your game you are basically the devil these days. Just look at the David Cage thread.

 

[Not]

EDIT: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

But nobody was arguing that. You didn't quote anybody. And this is a thread about Nintendo.

Yes they were, I was generalizing, and Nintendo fans and people like I just described make a Venn diagram into a tight butt shape.

 

[Famassu]

Yes, you shouldn't expect Mario: Bioshock edition.

This is fine, they're aimed at a kids/family audience.

Except it's not fine when "save the helpless princess" is far from being non-political and strengthens some stereotypes in society that way too many people still hold on to. If anything, Nintendo making kid oriented games makes them more responsible to not have that kind of shit in their games.

Disney can make kids' movies like Zootopia that handle serious topics like racism & prejudices, no reason why Nintendo couldn't do the same & infuse some positive, inclusive societal commentary into the settings/stories of their games in a clever way.

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

He means they won't be pandering to campaigns on message boards, which is good news. Let them make what they want.

 

[Shiggy]

That's fine. I enjoy their games. I don't need political statements everywhere for everyone. Not everything is politics.

So we have one thread where David Cage says he doesn't want to make any political statements with his gaema nd the overall reactions is: "Cool, I'm ok with that." Reggie says basically the same thing: "Omg art can't exist without political context fuck off Reggie!"

Nah, the other thread everyone was just "fuck David Cage" because it was another opportunity to write shit about David Cage.

 

[Kangi]

Kirby just got done telling a story about corporate greed and industrialization consuming a man's humanity.

And the evils of colonialism.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Disney can make kids' movies like Zootopia that handle serious topics like racism & prejudices, no reason why Nintendo couldn't do the same & infuse some positive, inclusive societal commentary into the settings/stories of their games in a clever way.

But they do.

Put in a character that, if another dev had made the game, would have made a big deal out of how inclusive they were. Instead Nintendo treats him literally the same as any other character in the game

Include an all female society with a variety of skin tones, body types and personalities. Again, they make no "comment" on it or how progressive they are. They're simply treated like any other race in the game

 

[Sanador]

Donkey Kong is a bad guy, right? And donkeys represent one political US party...

Sorry Reggie, too late!

/snicker

 

[Not]

I think I get it, it's very understandable to not want to have politics in Mario and Zelda. Makes perfect sense, but, as usual with Reggie, probably could've been worded better.

Probably a rational summary.

Kirby just got done telling a story about corporate greed and industrialization consuming a man's humanity.

I have got to fucking play Planet Robobot.